THE VOICE OF CLEAR LIGHTNews and Inspiration from Ligmincha InstituteVolume 6, Number 7July 10, 2006**************************For easy reading, we recommend that you print out "The Voice of ClearLight."There will not be a PDF version of this month’s edition of VOCL due toLigmincha’s three-week summer retreat. You can access an archive ofprevious issues at: http://ligmincha.org/study/vocl.html**************************IN THIS ISSUE:“Recognizing Your Relation to Practice” – an edited excerpt from oralteachings given by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, 2005.Honoring His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 71st birthday! The LongLife Prayer for His Holiness, plus an excerpt from his book “The Joy ofLiving and Dying in Peace”Sangha Sharing“His Holiness Lungtok Tenpa’i Nyima visits Serenity Ridge for the fundraisingbanquet,” by Raven WoodAnnual fall retreat at Chamma Ling Retreat Center in ColoradoThere's still time to register for the August retreat at Serenity Ridge- “Sherab Chamma: the Wisdom Loving Mother of the Bon Tradition”New Items at Ligmincha’s Tibet Shop**************************“RECOGNIZING YOUR RELATION TO PRACTICE” - an edited excerpt from oralteachings given by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, summer 2005As I guide meditation practices at retreats, I often say during thevisualization, "Try to imagine and feel." But there are other ways toapproach the practice. The best way would be that you don’t even haveto imagine, that you don’t have to visualize, that you don’t have totry and feel; rather, the moment you intend to be in the experience,you are there. It's like when you are eating lunch - do you have toimagine eating lunch? Do you have to feel that you’re eating lunch?Do you have to think that you’re eating lunch? No, you are eatinglunch and that’s it. There’s no question that would be the best way topractice, right?What would be the second best way to do practice? Feeling theexperience, right? Feeling it with heart, feeling it in a real orauthentic way. When I am feeling the presence of a divine being oflight, for example, the sense of reality in that experience can be justas strong as when I experience a negative feeling or emotion. How realdoes that negativity feel? It is with that same sense of reality that Ican feel the presence of the quality of love, or generosity, oropenness. So, having this feeling naturally arise in practice wouldbe the next best thing.And then, to simply imagine the presence of the divine being of light,or the quality of generosity, say, during practice is the next bestway. “Imagine” is a word I use a lot in teaching. In every positiveexperience we aspire to in practice, we first have to imagine ithappening. We have to imagine it well, and we have to have a good,creative imagination. When done right, this imagining has a sense ofrealness to it, a good sense of clarity to it. There is some sense ofcertainty there, but still it is imagination. When the imagination isreal, clear and certain, then the practices will definitely have power.That is not so hard to imagine, is it?Finally, if imagining is difficult for you, then the next bestpossibility is for you to use your conceptual mind and in a way, thinkyour way through the practice, talk yourself through the practice.This is similar to being guided by someone else in meditation. Thepractice leader is guiding your experience by talking to you. You arelistening to the sound of the words, and hopefully following the leaderat that moment. Over time, with the help of the leader you can developconfidence and a deeper connection to the practice.So you can see the different ways in which practice can work. They areall valid in their own ways. The only question is: Which way do Inormally find myself connecting to practice; and from that place, howcan I further develop my connection?Students often tell me, “I can feel” or “I can't feel”; or, “I canvisualize” or “I cannot visualize.” They’ll ask, “Am I doing itright?” “Am I supposed to do it a different way?” These questionsalways pop up in people’s minds, right?In a way, everyone is in the right place in practice, no matter whatmethod they are using. It cannot be the wrong place, because it is theonly place that exists at that moment for you, so to be there is theright place to be. It is important to recognize that it is indeed theright place for oneself at this moment - while also to recognize thatother experiences are possible. For example, if you have becomecomfortable with using the imagination during practice, then you maywant to try practicing now a little bit more from the place of feeling.If a better approach is easy for you, then begin practicing in thatbetter way. If it’s not so easy, then understand that the way you areconnecting to practice at the moment is fine. Don’t think, “I amunable to do it the better way; I’m only able to do it this way -what’s the matter with me?” When you think in this way, not only areyou saying that your way is a bad way, but you are mistakenly labelingyourself. Recognizing this will be the first step of growth in yourdevelopment.Looking at the different ways of doing the practice, where do youstand? Have you reflected on your choices? Have you narrowed themdown? Can you now look at your practice and say, “I think I practicethis way and sometimes that way”? Have you become comfortable in acertain way of practicing? And have you looked into the next step youcan take?**************************HONORING HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA ON HIS 71st BIRTHDAY!July 6 is the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Let’s jointogether on this auspicious day in heart and in prayer for his health,happiness and long life!Here is the Long Life Prayer for His Holiness (in Tibetan and English):Gang ri ra be kor wai shing kham suPen dang de wa ma lu chung pai neChen re zig wang Ten zin Gya tso yiShab pe kel gyai bar du ten gyur chigIn the heavenly realm of TibetSurrounded by a chain of snow mountainsThe source of all happiness and help for beingsIs Tenzin Gyatso, Chenrezig in person.May his life be secure for hundreds of kalpas!***From “The Joy of Living and Dying in Peace” by His Holiness the DalaiLama:Ultimately, all the excellent qualities within the cycle of existence,the state of liberation, and Buddhahood are the result of the awakeningmind. It is also like a supreme medicine healing sentient beings’sickness. It is like a wish-fulfilling tree in whose shade exhaustedwandering beings can rest and relax. It is like a bridge over whichsentient beings can be liberated from their negative states ofexistence.Cultivating the awakening mind is like the moon shining, dispelling thedarkness of disturbing emotions. It is like the bright sun removingthe murky ignorance of sentient beings. It is like the butter obtainedby churning the milk of the Dharma. Sentient beings are like travelerswandering endlessly on the paths of the cycle of existence. This mindwishing to benefit other sentient beings is like the very sustenance ofthese wandering sentient beings. All of us wandering in the cycle ofexistence are the same. The only difference is that today, because ofour merit, because of the kindness of our teachers, and because we haveencountered the Buddha’s teachings, we are able to cultivate such anawakening mind in the presence of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas.***“The Joy of Living and Dying in Peace” by His Holiness the Dalai Lamawas published in 1997 by HarperCollins Publishers. Edited by DonaldLopez, Jr. Part of a series by the Library of Tibet, General SeriesEditor John F. Avedon. Available at local bookstores and online atAmazon.com.**************************SANGHA SHARING“HIS HOLINESS LUNGTOK TENPA’I NYIMA VISITS SERENITY RIDGE FOR THE FUNDRAISINGBANQUET”On May 27, Ligmincha Institute had the great fortune and honor to hosta fund-raising event in support of the Tibetan refugee orphans who areunder the care of the 33rd abbot of Menri Monastery, His HolinessLungtok Tenpa’i Nyima Rinpoche. The event was held at Serenity Ridge,Ligmincha’s retreat center in Nelson County, Va.Clouds of purifying smoke lifted into the afternoon sky. The long andwinding driveway, which had been ornamented with colorful chalkdrawings of the eight symbols of auspiciousness, was lined by sangha,friends and family eager to greet His Holiness. Upon his arrival eachgreeter offered him a traditional silk scarf (khata), some offeredflowers, and everyone spontaneously broke into wide smiles as HisHoliness received their offerings.Later in our beautiful gompa, Tenzin Rinpoche along with the rest ofthose gathered offered to His Holiness the mandala as well as prayersfor a long life. During this time together we were blessed to receivefrom His Holiness the transmission for the Sherab Chamma practice aswell as an opportunity to be individually blessed by the text fromwhich he read. We then gathered outside in the hot Virginia sun toparticipate in a blessing of the land and a ritual groundbreaking forthe upcoming construction that will complete the second wing of theGaruda House dormitory.After a brief rest period, the fund-raising dinner began. We werejoined under the tent by His Holiness, Chongtrul Rinpoche, Geshe LhasayTenzin, Geshe Tenzin Yeshe, as well as Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, TseringWangmo and their son Senghe. A bounty of delicious food and diverseentertainment was provided by both sangha and local musicians.Due to the generosity of dinner attendees, other private donors, localbusinesses that donated goods and services, and a large group ofvolunteers who offered their time and energy, Ligmincha was able tomanifest this event in order to support the tireless work of HisHoliness in providing for the children under his care. Thanks to eachand every one of you. May all beings benefit!- Raven Wood**************************ANNUAL FALL RETREAT AT CHAMMA LING RETREAT CENTERHeart Drops of DharmakayaWith an Introduction to Sky GazingSeptember 7-10, 2006With Geshe Tenzin Wangyal RinpocheCrestone, ColoradoThe nature of our own mind remains hidden behind clouds of thoughts andemotions until the time when a master directly points out to us thesource, the essence, the heart drop. This is the method of directintroduction to dzogchen, the highest and most subtle path ofmeditation in Tibetan Bon Buddhism.The text “Heart Drops of Dharmakaya” was composed by Shardza TashiGyaltsen, a Tibetan master who passed away in 1935, at which time hisphysical body dissolved into light, into the rainbow body. ShardzaRinpoche was one of the most influential teachers of his time, and hisworks are used as textbooks in many Tibetan monasteries.During this retreat Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche will lead us in a series ofpractices that use body, speech and mind in extraordinary ways toinvoke direct perception of the nature of mind. Unlike methods thatrely on observing the breath or calming the thoughts, these practicesuse body postures and simple yet potent visualizations to draw usdirectly and quickly to the experience of our essence. With theintroduction to sky gazing, we will learn to connect to and dissolvewithin the vast expanse of space. There could be no better place tolearn these ancient practices than the high mountains of Crestone.Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche received these teachings from his rootteacher Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, one of the greatest livingdzogchen masters of the Bon lineage and the author of the commentary inthe book “Heart Drops of Dharmakaya,” published by Snow Lion, 2002.Tenzin Rinpoche has a unique ability to relate these teachings clearlyand directly to our everyday lives. Please join us for this uniqueopportunity!RETREAT FEES ONLY: $210 (received by Aug. 7); $240 (received afterAug. 7). Cancellation fee: $30Visit www.chammaling.org for further information as well as to viewmany beautiful photos of this amazing place.Contact: John JacksonTel.: (434) 823-6419Email:
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**************************THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE AUGUST RETREAT AT SERENITY RIDGEAUGUST 16-20, 2006“SHERAB CHAMMA: THE WISDOM LOVING MOTHER OF THE BON TRADITION”with Geshe Nyima Kunchap and Geshe Tenzin YesheThe tantric cycle of Sherab Chamma (Wisdom Loving Mother) is one of themost important in Bon. The practice of Sherab Chamma helps us todeeply connect with the healing radiance of love and compassion andwith the innate wisdom through which all obstacles are cleared.Sherab Chamma has been a main practice of Geshe Nyima Kunchap for manyyears. He and Geshe Tenzin Yeshe will present teachings on SherabChamma and her eight primary aspects, which manifest in order to healthe eight forms of fear.During this retreat we will learn about the power of Sherab Chamma todispel obstacles. We will also learn how to prepare the tormas (doughofferings) that represent Sherab Chamma and her retinue, and how toperform the mudras (symbolic hand gestures) of the main outer offeringsof flower, incense, light, water and food.Retreat cost (includes meals):$375 if received by July 25; $400 if received after July 25To register please contact Ligmincha Institute at:
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or(434) 977-6161.**************************NEW ITEMS AT LIGMINCHA’S TIBET SHOPTo read descriptions and see photographs of the newest items atLigmincha Institute’s Bookstore and Tibet Shop and for orderinformation, please go to www.ligminchastore.org and click on "searchby category or description" and then click on "New items." Or, godirectly to:http://www.ligminchastore.org/items.asp?CategoryID=16&SubCategory=0&Submit=Search***BOOKS:"Unbounded Wholeness: Dzogchen, Bön and the Logic of theNonconceptual." By Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and Anne CarolynKlein. Now available in leather-bound hardcover. Price: $85. (paperbackedition is also available, at $25)"The Arrow and the Spindle: Studies in History, Myths, Rituals andBeliefs in Tibet, Volume II." By Samten G. Karmay. A collection ofarticles written by the author since 1999, including "History and the'Yul Lha' Cult in Tibet"; "The Fifth Dalai Lama and NyingmapaTeachings"; and "Bonpo People and Their Heritage." Paperback, 237pages. Price: $22"The Healthy Mind Interviews: Khenpo Nyima Wangyal." By Henry M. Vyner,M.D. Interview with Bon lama Khenpo Nyima Wangyal on the definingcharacteristics of a healthy mind. Dimensions: 4" x 5". Paperback, 117pages. Price: $7.95"Dzogchen Teachings," by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. Justpublished! Paperback, 168 pages. Price: $16.95"Old Man Basking in the Sun: Longchenpa's Treasury of NaturalPerfection. Foreword by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu; translation andcommentary by Keith Dowman. Paperback, 335 pages. Price: $19.95NEW DEITY CARD:Elements Khandros, with written description on the back of the card.Price: $4MAPS OF TIBET:Kailash - Lake Manasarovara, Trekking Map. Price: $18South Central Tibet Map. Price: $18Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim & Bhutan Map. Price: $18SUPPORT FOR THE YOGAS OF DREAM AND SLEEP:Zen Timepiece - This clock is both beautiful and functional. Its alarmis the inspiring sound of a brass singing bowl. It includes a 'repeat'timer, perfect for sounding intervals during meditation and yogapractice; and for dream yoga practitioners, the timer can be set to gooff every two hours to enable waking for practice. The Zen Timepieceruns on two C batteries (not included). It measures 4.5" (h) x 9.5"(w)x 7" (d), and comes with instruction booklet.

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We are happy to announce the first publication by Sacred Sky Press! In Indestructible: The Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin, Raven Cypress Wood has beautifully translated and annotated parts of Tséwang Rikdzin's text, the Tsewang Jarima. Known as the “King of Longevity,” eighth century Tibetan master Tséwang Rikdzin composed many ritual texts aimed at alleviating suffering and was a dzogchen master. The book was first made available during Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s fall retreat at Serenity Ridge. Now it is available to all.

The hardcover has a dust jacket and contains color word highlights and several color photos. The paperback contains the same contents, but with black and white text and interior photos.Order copies here

About Voice of Clear Light

Voice of Clear Light is a free email publication of Ligmincha International. Your suggestions and contributions to Voice of Clear Light are welcome. To contact us, send an email to: voiceofclearlight@ligmincha.org

For more information about Ligmincha International, the teachings of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, or retreats at Serenity Ridge or our other regional centers, please contact us at: